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CEFR A2 · ELEMENTARY

English at A2, the elementary level.

At A2 you handle short social exchanges and routine tasks, in simple terms.

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Can-do lines from the Council of Europe's own grid

CEFR A2, Elementary

Band A · Basic user

active words
~1,000
guided hours from zero
180–200

The words are a typical estimate and the hours a commonly cited range, not a Carna measurement.

The step, with its neighbours

  1. A1, Beginner: 90–100 guided hours
  2. A2, Elementary: 180–200 guided hours
  3. B1, Intermediate: 350–400 guided hours
Next: B1 · Intermediate

— WHAT YOU CAN DO

What A2 lets you do.

The CEFR describes A2 in “can-do” terms: what you are able to do with the language in each mode, not what you know about it. These lines follow the Council of Europe's self-assessment grid.

  1. Listening

    Understand phrases and the most common vocabulary about personal and family information, shopping, your local area and work, and catch the main point of short, clear messages and announcements.

  2. Reading

    Read very short, simple texts, find specific information in everyday material such as adverts, menus and timetables, and understand short, simple personal letters.

  3. Speaking

    Handle short social exchanges and simple, routine tasks that need a direct exchange of information, and describe your family, other people, where you live, your education and your job in simple terms.

  4. Writing

    Write short, simple notes and messages about immediate needs, and a very simple personal letter, for example to thank someone.

— WHERE A2 SITS

A2 on the scale.

Each bar is the commonly cited guided-hour range to reach a level, counted from zero, so every level includes the hours before it. A2 keeps its colour; open any step for its guide.

Guided learning hours to reach each level, cumulative
  1. A1, Beginner: 90–100 guided hours
  2. A2, Elementary: 180–200 guided hours
  3. B1, Intermediate: 350–400 guided hours
  4. B2, Upper-Intermediate: 500–600 guided hours
  5. C1, Advanced: 700–800 guided hours
  6. C2, Proficient: 1,000+ guided hours

Commonly cited guided-learning-hour ranges, not a Carna measurement. Open a level for what it means in practice.

— IN CARNA TODAY

The same scale, on the screen.

Carna for Schools runs on the CEFR scale today: assigned work shows its level on the card, and so do the books in the student's library. The individual tutor is in early access.

  • CARNA FOR SCHOOLS · LIVE TODAY

    Every card names its level.

    A student's Learn screen lists what the teacher assigned, soonest due first, each module with its CEFR level on the cover.

    A student's Learn screen in Carna for Schools. Carna School London is a sample school; the courses, levels and dates are demo data.

  • CARNA FOR SCHOOLS · LIVE TODAY

    Books with their level on the cover.

    The readers a school publishes carry their CEFR level on the cover, so reading practice can stay at the rung a student is on.

    A student's Library in Carna for Schools. Carna School London is a sample school; the books and levels are demo data.

Book a demo See Carna for Schools

— FIND YOUR LEVEL

Not sure where you stand?

A placement test scores each skill separately, because reading and speaking are rarely at the same level. Carna Test is the assessment platform from Carna, on its own site.

Also from Carna

Carna Test

A three-section placement test (CPT) and a five-section adaptive test with speaking and writing (CAET), on carnatest.com.

Find your level on carnatest.com (opens in a new tab)

FAQ

Questions about A2.

How long it takes, what it lets you do, and how A2 compares.

How long does it take to go from A1 to A2?

Reaching A2 takes around 180 to 200 cumulative guided hours, so roughly another 90 to 100 hours on top of A1. Regular, short sessions tend to shorten the calendar time more than occasional long ones.

What can I do at A2 level?

At A2 you can handle short social exchanges, describe your background and surroundings, and complete routine tasks that need a simple, direct exchange of information.

Is A2 enough to travel?

A2 covers most basic travel needs: ordering food, asking directions, simple shopping. For richer conversations and handling the unexpected, B1 is the next meaningful step.

EARLY ACCESS

Want this level taught?

Carna's personal tutor is still on its way, so there is no individual sign-up yet. Join the early-access list and we will write to you when it opens. Schools and teams run on Carna today.

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